Washing-machine



(No Model.) 3 sheets sheet 1.

J. R. UNDERWOOD.

WASHING MACHINE.

Patented Aug. 13, 1895.

Inventor- Witrie (No Model.) 3 Sheets -Sheet 2.

J. R. UNDERWOOD.

WASHING MACHINE.

} Patented Aug. 13,1895.

linlf Inventor.

Vvitnessesz Attorfiey.

(No Model.) ,3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. R. UNDERWOOD.

WASHING MACHINE.

No. 544,550. Patented Aug. 13, 1895.

Witnessesi Inv entor- WM Attorney.

UNrrnn- STATES" PATENT rrrcs.

JOHN R. UNDERW'OOD, OF COLUMBUS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JACOB G. ZELLERS, OF CAMP CHASE, OHIO.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,550, dated August 13, 1895.

Application filed December 21, 1894:- Serial No. 532,522. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN R. UNDERWOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at C0- lumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Washing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of washing-machines, and has particular relation to the improvement of the mechanism shown in my former Patent No. 86,830, dated January 26, 1869. v

The objects of my present invention are to provide the washing-cylinder with an improved spring-actuated washing-segment, to provide improved bearings for the friction or washing rollers, to provide improved means for operating the machine, and to produce other improvements the details of construc:

tion of which will be more fully pointed out hereinafter. the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine. Fig.2 is a longitudinal section on line 2 z of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the. machine, showing a portion of the casing broken away. Fig. 4 is a transverse section,

on line a: 00 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an end view of thecylinder, showing a portion of the casing broken away from the same. Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of the rubbing-bed, and Fig. 7

' is a rear elevation of the lower or stationary portion of the washing device shown as de-' tached from the main frame.

Similar figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the construction of my improved Washing-machine Iemploy on oblong box 1,.which may be supported upon suitable standards 2.

= 3 represents a transverse shaft, which bears in the upper sides of the tank or box 1, said shaft carrying adjacent to the inner walls of the longer sides of the box 1 the end disks 4 of the washing-cylind er. Formed in the disks 4, near the outer edges or peripheries of the latter, are comparatively short tangential curved mortises 5, said mortises being arranged at equal distances one from the other, and serving as guides or ways for the ends or journals 6 of transverse shafts or rollers 7,

These objects I accomplish in which, as shown, extend between said disks. These shafts or rollers 7 are of such circumference as to bring their peripheries substantially flush, with the peripheries of the disks 4 when the journals of said shafts are in the outer ends of the mortises. A further connection of the end disks is attained by means of the desired number of transverse tie-rods 8. As shown in my said former patent, the ends of the roller-journals are supported in the outer ends of spring-wires 9, which, extending tangentially inward, have their inner end portions terminating in coils 10, which are secured to the outer sides or faces of the disks 4, said springs serving to normally retain the roller-journals in the outer ends of the guide-mortises. Ove'r each of the end disks of the open cylinder, formed as above described, is fitted a cover-plate 12. 7o

Supported in the bottomof the box 1, adjacent to each of the longer sides thereof and beneath the end disks of the cylinder, are vertical plates 13, each of the latter being provided with a concaved seat or recess in its upper side, within which seats project the lower portions of the cylinder-disks 4. On the inner side of each of the plates 13and adjacent to the upper curved edge of the latter is secured a correspondingly-curved metallic bearing-plate 14. In these bearing-plates 14 are journaled the ends of a set of transverse parallel rollers 15, the peripheries of which are normally in contact with the periphery of one of the rollers 17 represents a feed-board the inner edge portion of which is journaled, as indicated at 18, between the forward portionsof the plates 13, said journal-edge being adjacent to the first of the series of rollers 15. This board 17 is normally held in the inclined position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings by 'means of latch-buttons 19, the inner ends of which are pivoted to the feed-board and the outer end portions of which are, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, notched to engage with the forward ends of the plate 13. This feed-board may be dropped downward to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, if desired.

20 represents a washing-board segment, which is curved, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, to conform to the circle described by the washing-cylinder. The lower end of said washing-segment is pivoted or journaled between the plates 13 adjacent to the rear roller 15. The inner concave face of the washingsegment is, as indicated at 21, provided with transverse corrugations or otherwise roughened. The washing-segment is normally retained in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings that is, in close proximity to the path of the rollers 7 when the cylinder is rotated by means of a spring-rod 23. This spring-rod has one of its ends secured to the back of the segment 20 near one end thereof, and has its remaining end secured, as indicated at 2i, to one end of one of the plates 13. The central portion of the spring-rod is partially coiled, as indicated at 25, said coiled portion being also secured by a staple 26 to the back of the washing-segment. Each end of the segment 20 is provided with a projecting stop-pin 28, which is adapted to engage, as indicated in Fig. 7 of the drawings, with corresponding ends of the plates 13, and thereby prevent the spring-actuated segment being pressed too far inward.

Over the upper and outwardly-projecting portion of the washing-cylinder I provide a detachable cover 29, the latter being provided with suitable catches 30 for detachably connecting it with the box 1.

On an outer projecting end portion of the shaft 3 I fix a gear-wheel .32. In the outer side of the box 1, and on a frame-piece 33, supported from said box, is journaled a short shaft 35, on which is carried a gear-wheel 36, the latter gearing with the wheel 32 of the shaft 3. On the outer end of the shaft 35 is carried a fly-wheel 37, having a handle 38 projecting therefrom eccentrically.

The tank being supplied with water or suds in the usual manner, the goods to be washed are fed onto the board 17 and thence into the cylinder, said goods being drawn by contact with the rollers 7 when the cylinder is rotated between said rollers 7 and the rollers 15. In addition to the frictional contact or washing action of these rollers it will be seen that the clothes will be further rubbed by being forced over the corrugated inner surface of the washing-segment20. It is evident that the guideways 5,through which the journals of the rollers 7 pass, will admit of said rollers moving inward to accommodate goods of difierent thicknesses which may be introduced into the machine. It will also be seen that, owing to the fact that the rollers 7 are spring-actuated, the goods will be kept in contact with the rollers 15, regardless of the thickness of said goods. It is obvious that. the spring 23 will not only serve to keep the washing-segment pressed up in its proper place, but will admit of the washing-segment being turned downward to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

By the use of the metallic bearing-strips 14:

it will be seen that superior bearings are pro-' vided for the journals of the rollers 15. It will also be observed that by employing the large fly or operating Wheel 37 and the connecting gear-wheels superior means are provided for produciuga rapid and effective op eration of the machine.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A washing machine consisting-ofa tank, an open rotary cylinder mounted therein, rollers yieldingly journaled in said cylinder, parallel plates 13 supported in the tank beneath the endsof the cylinders, curved metallicbearing plates 1t secured to said plates 13, a series of rollers journaled in said metallic plates, a feed board journaled between the forward ends of the plates 13 adjacent to the first of the series of rollers, a curved washing board segment hinged at its lower edge between the plates 13 adjacent to the last of the series of rollers, a spring rod secured at one end to a fixed support in the tank and at its other end to the back of the hinged segment, said spring rod being partially coiled, and stops within the tank to limit the inward movement of the segment toward the rotary cylinder, substantially as described.

O. C. SHEPHERD, D. N. KELLEY. 

